Genevieve Munafo

Genevieve B. Munafo

NEWPORT - Genevieve Barbara (Kunz) Munafo,

95, of Mumford Avenue, Newport, RI, died on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at St. Clare Home.

She was the widow of Paul T. Munafo.

Mrs. Munafo was born May 1, 1913 in Newport, daughter of the late Henry and Mary

(O'Brien) Kunz. One of six children, she was known as Jean to her friends. She was an

incorrigible tomboy, often regaling her family with tales of her childhood exploits. She met

her husband, Paul, when he was serving in the army, stationed at Fort Adams. He

gathered a group of friends to serenade her with the then-popular song, “Sweet

Genevieve”.

Unable to find steady work, her husband went into business for himself in the 1940's with

her encouragement and common-sense business skills. She served as his bookkeeper and

promoter, worked at the torpedo station during WWII, and took housekeeping jobs to

make ends meet until the business became successful. She taught herself to drive in an

old truck that was missing its doors and would only turn left. She was generous and kind,

often taking complete strangers into her home for weeks at a time, despite her family's

meager means. In later years, when the family was successful, she made numerous

donations to homeless shelters and religious institutions.

An avid horsewoman, she and her husband owned horses at their stables on Brenton

Road and she gave riding lessons at Mayfair Stables in Middletown. She and her two sons

earned hundreds of ribbons competing and showing all over the east coast. She was a

self-taught, prize-winning jumper on her thoroughbred, Humoresque. Jean loved animals.

In addition to several horses, she always took in stray dogs and cats and deeply grieved

the loss of each. In deference to her fierce love for animals, she became a staunch

vegetarian and remained so throughout her life.

Jean and Paul also owned “Fair Oaks” estate on Beacon Hill Road and purchased that

property in the mid-1950's for $14,000. They spent several years repairing and

modernizing the house. They retained the grandeur of the main floor and rented it to the

Australian syndicate during Australia's first America's Cup Challenge - becoming friendly

with Sir Frank Packer and his entourage. A woman of many talents, Jean learned to paint

and plaster from her husband who was known for his talented restoration of plaster

moldings and carvings. She tackled carpentry, plumbing and electrical work, and once

built staging to allow her to reach and clean the crystal chandeliers at Fair Oaks. No job

was too large or - to the chagrin of her family - too complicated. They eventually sold the

estate in the early 1960's for $66,000.

Jean was also an accomplished seamstress, sewing winter coats and hats for her

grandchildren, as well as party dresses and other clothing. She and her daughter once

made heavy velvet draperies for Fair Oaks, using nuts, bolts and metal washers as

weights. She took delight in proving this to a later owner of the estate who expressed

doubt that the elaborate draperies were her handiwork. She simply invited him to inspect

the hems.

She and her husband were active in the Auxiliary Coast Guard where he served as

Captain. After his death, she served as a Commander and wrote the monthly newsletter

for many years. Both husband and wife were active boaters. Many weekends were spent

on their cabin cruiser, also named “Humoresque”, docked at Christie's Wharf.

In her later years, she became a home health aide and was known for her compassionate

care giving. At that time, certification included studying and passing a difficult exam. She

was proud that, at age 75, she earned the highest grade in the class.

Her husband died in 1973 at the age of 63 - thus, she was a widow for 35 years. Her

family describes her as competitive, stubborn, feisty, and determined. She was also

funny, irreverent, spirited, and creative. She was also quite beautiful in her younger

years, often compared to the famous actress, Jean Harlow.

She is survived by her children, Polly Marcucci and her husband Hector of Newport RI,

James Munafo and his wife Andrea of Horizon City TX, and Domenic Munafo and his wife

Patricia of Jamestown RI, as well as twelve grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren and

two great-great-grandchildren.

She donated her body to science, telling her family that she would finally be attending

college.

A memorial service is planned for Sunday, May 25, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Augustin's

Church on Harrison Avenue in Newport. All are kindly welcome.

In lieu of flowers or other memorials, contributions may be made in her name to St. Clare

Home, 309 Spring Street, Newport, RI 02840 or to PawsWatch, P.O. Box 3711, Newport,

RI 02840.